Coach says girls young in field events, boys freshman-dominated
By Dan Truttschel
Correspondent
Youth will be served this spring for the Big Foot boys and girls track and field teams.
But that could certainly bode well for the future.
Longtime head coach Greg Lueck will lead a pair of young teams into battle in 2015, but he’s excited to see how those athletes will develop with time.
“We are very young on both the girls and boys teams,” he said. “The girls do have a little experience coming back, but the guys will be freshman-dominated.
“Our goals for both teams are to finish in the top three of the Rock Valley South and to qualify as many to sectionals and state as possible.”
Leading the Big Foot girls is sophomore Brooke Wellhausen, who qualified for the state meet last year in the 400.
She is joined by sophomore Gloria Esarco (distance), junior Dana Sorenson (sprints), junior Kalen Gillingham (middle distance) and senior Megan Pultz (sprints) as others who should lead the girls, Lueck said.
“We have some talent coming back, especially with Brooke and Gloria leading the way,” he said.
Big Foot also has a trio of newcomers to track who have shown early they could be a force, Lueck said. Senior Mari Hubanks and freshmen Alexandria Demco and Grace Gillingham are expected to compete in the sprinting events.
“We should be strong in the sprints, but young in the field events,” Lueck said.
Also looking to contribute this spring are seniors Ozge Cite (sprints), Samara Enz (sprints), Carlie O’Donnell (distance) and Rosa Spooner (sprints); juniors Kat Ahrens (hurdles), Assa Diarra (sprints), Michaela Fair (hurdles), Isabel Lavariega (throws), and Flor Ramirez (hurdles); sophomores Katlyn Decker (sprints), Hannah Hartwig (throws), Aaliyah Luna (throws), Destiny Schmidt (throws) and Hailey Van Wormer (throws); and freshmen Lindsey Coleman (sprints), Jenna Fort (throws), Nikita Jones (sprints), Makenzie Lueck (throws) and Ryan Tisdale (hurdles).
Strahan leads boys
The top athlete back for the Big Foot boys is senior Fletcher Strahan, who will compete in the 1,600 and 3,200.
“(He) has the most experience coming back and has had the most success,” Lueck said. “I expect Fletcher to be the leader of the team. He will be our top place-getter throughout the year.”
Other boys who have looked strong so far include senior Tyler Wicks (sprints), junior Charlie Peterson (sprints), junior Greg Kovarik (throws) and junior John Rebhorn (throws).
Also hoping to contribute this spring are seniors Jacob Fort (hurdles), Austin Laitila (sprints) and Bernard Lerchegger (distance); sophomores Olinh Craig (sprints), Connor Kirk (sprints), Matt Morales Orrick (sprints), Andrew Rego (sprints), Tim Robaczewski (throws), Mitch Schaefer (hurdles), Craig Smith (throws), Eddie Uden (throws), Sam Van Dan (distance) and Jared Wells (throws); and
Freshmen Austin Brongiel (sprints), Aaron Carpenter (throws), Dan Carpenter (throws), Demitri Demco (distance), Jackson Enz (hurdles), Connor Hessman (hurdles), Quin Hickey (distance), David Martin (hurdles), Juan Mercado (sprints), Tucker Milligan (sprints), Nico Montiel (throws), Colton Oldenburg (sprints), Sam Ritchey (sprints), Ethan Rowland (throws), Pedro Sierra (hurdles), Jacob Sorenson (sprints), Taylor Trotti (throws) and Mike Volschow (throws).
Teams to beat in the RVC South should be Turner and Clinton on the girls’ side and Turner and Brodhead for the boys, said Lueck, who is entering his 15th year as head coach.
McFarland and East Troy are the favorites from the North and in the conference as a whole, Lueck said.
Big Foot opened its season last month with an indoor meet at UW-Whitewater and begins its outdoor schedule next Tuesday, April 7, against visiting Turner and Clinton at 4:30 p.m.
